All About Stevia: Your Questions Answered

For those of us constantly training, we understand that we need our carbohydrates and our protein, and yes—even our sugar. But there are so many sugar alternatives out there, that when we want something that sweetens and doesn’t have the same negative effects on our body as sugar sometimes can, how do we know what the right product to choose is? Today we want to talk about Stevia, because there’s a lot of news circulating about it and because—guess what? It’s in Promax bars! Why in the world would be choose Stevia? Well, because it’s a perfectly safe sweetening product, and it’s natural. But we know you have more questions, so we’re happy to answer them!

Where does Stevia come from?

Stevia is completely natural. It comes from a plant. In fact, it comes from the same family as Chrysanthemum or ragweed. It’s been used in South American and Asian countries for ages as a sweetener. You can find Stevia in its natural form in Brazil, Paraguay, Japan, and China.

How does Stevia compare to sugar?

Believe it or not, Stevia is actually sweeter than sugar. Studies show that Stevia is found to be 200 times sweeter tasting than regular sugar. Not bad for something that isn’t even sugar, right? Because of this, your body reacts differently to Stevia than it would to sugar. Unlike sugar, which raises blood sugar, studies show that Stevia actually tends to lower blood sugar levels. This is a great benefit for everyone but especially for those training who may be suffering for Diabetes. (If you are suffering from Diabetes and want to try Stevia, though, it’s always a good idea to consult your doctor first.)

Is Stevia safe for baking?

Yes, absolutely! Stevia is safe for baking and while it measures a bit differently than regular sugar will in a measuring cup, it’s perfectly safe to integrate it into your recipes.

How can I use Stevia?

There are so many ways you can use Stevia. You can put it in your coffee or tea, for instance. Another way to use it would be to sprinkle it over a tasty fresh fruit salad. If you’re someone who indulges in yogurt parfaits, you can include a little there also. Think of all the things that you may be tempted to use sugar for and instead, substitute Stevia.

Where do I find Stevia?

Stevia can be found in most grocery stores. You will find it usually in the sugar aisle or paired with the coffee or tea in single serving size packets. Other forms of artificial sugars which include Stevia are products like Truvia or ProVia, but these aren’t as natural as Stevia and are more processed.

Still Unsure?

Now that you know the basics about Stevia—where it comes from, how it compares to sugar (and how your body reacts differently), whether it’s safe for baking, how to use it, and where to find it, what’s stopping you? We’d love to know if you’re finding ways to incorporate Stevia into your daily nutrition. Is it by way of a Promax bar perhaps? If you’ve still got questions, feel free to reach out to us on Facebook or Twitter, we’re always happy to keep the fitness and nutrition conversation going!